Bears-Seahawks game moved from prime time
In a season of embarrassments, the Bears suffered yet another Monday when they were deemed not worthy of prime time.
Their matchup with the 2006 NFC West champion Seattle Seahawks was originally scheduled for 7:15 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18.
On Monday, it was switched to 3:15 p.m. under the NFL's flexible scheduling policy, which allows the league to replace an unattractive matchup with a more popular game.
The Bears and the almost-as-disappointing Seahawks (4-4) will be replaced by the New England Patriots (9-0) and Buffalo Bills (4-4), who were originally scheduled for a noon start.
The Bears-Seahawks game, a rematch of last season's divisional playoff at Soldier Field, was dealt a death blow after Seattle lost in overtime Sunday to Cleveland.
Missing out on the national spotlight isn't a priority for Bears coach Lovie Smith.
"It's good when you play on a prime time game, but that's way down on the list of the things that we're really concentrating on right now," Smith said. "We're just anxious to play a game. That's not really big to us right now. As I see it, if we can get on a roll, (they'll) want to see us play a little bit later on in the year.
"Right now we're a 3-5 team, so we're kind of out of sight, out of mind a little bit."
The Bears have already played on national TV twice this season on Sundays, losing at home to the Cowboys in Week 3 and defeating the Packers in Green Bay two weeks later. Their remaining prime-time games are Thursday, Dec. 6, at Washington and Monday, Dec. 17, at Minnesota.
Still waiting: Injured cornerback Nate Vasher did his most extensive practice work Monday since suffering a strained groin in Week 3, and he hopes to be back for Sunday's game against the Raiders.
"I feel like if I have an opportunity to get back out there I'll be ready to play," Vasher said. "And I won't get out there until I feel like that. But I'm feeling pretty good right now."
The decision won't be made -- or at least won't be announced -- until later in the week, but Lovie Smith is looking forward to having the 2005 Pro Bowler back.
"Nathan has intercepted a lot of passes for us (16 in his previous three seasons)," Smith said. "He's just a good football player. He makes it complete as far as our defense being back on the field. Right now he's the only starter who's not out there. When you're 3-5 you need all your good football players out on the field."
Tough task: Since 1990, only five NFL teams have made the playoffs after starting 3-5, the last being the 2002 New York Jets.
Prior to that, the 1996 Jacksonville Jaguars, 1995 Detroit Lions, 1994 New England Patriots and 1990 New Orleans Saints did what the Bears are hoping to do.
The 1977 Bears also made the playoffs after starting 3-5, and they did it with the old 14-game schedule by winning their final six.